Issue 155

Cardiff in tears

08th May 2007

Cardiff 8 - Swansea 10

Swansea's mixed Lacrosse team started off the day's victories in style as they beat the Cardiff side 10-8 in a closely fought game.

The first quarter saw Swansea's Matt Morris, the Welsh international, making the first mark on Swansea's score sheet. Within this even quarter of the match, both Swansea and Cardiff had a few shots on target which were well saved but showed that they were equally keen for the victory.

Following a throw-in between both teams, Matt Morris scored again making the score 2-0 to a delighted Swansea team. Just before the whistle to end this first quarter however, Cardiff managed to claim something back with Sue Chandler getting the ball past the Swansea goal keeper to make it 2-1 at the end of an exciting first part of play.

The second quarter seemed to show Cardiff as the better side, most probably fuelled with them being behind on the score board. Sue Chandler scored another goal early on in the quarter with Swansea fighting back with captain Steve Ward hitting the shin pads of the Cardiff keeper in an attempt to put Swansea back in the lead. Swansea's attempts weren't in vain however as David Bumby closely followed this with his first goal of the match.

The Cardiff team hit back by scoring two goals close together taking the score to 4-3 to Cardiff, but only for a short time as Matt Morris scored again for Swansea just before the end of the second quarter, making the score an even 4-4.

Swansea's Rhodri James scored in the third quarter of the game giving Swansea the lead again in this match, just before Cardiff's Sue Chandler managed to score another making the score equal again. It certainly showed that both teams were hungry for success in this game and were playing each other at their best, with neither side letting their guard down for a moment.

Cardiff's Mike Peters scored almost straight away in the fourth and final quarter of the game. However, this goal was disallowed by the referee as it was deemed that there were too many people on the pitch. Cardiff were obviously not happy with a disallowed goal but then struck back by Izzy Try getting a goal in for them instead. Swansea decided to even the score out with Steve Ward scoring, followed by a fourth goal of the game from Matt Morris to take them back in the lead. In this fiercely fought last quarter, goals seemed to be coming in quick concession with neither team wanting to let the opposition get too far ahead of them. Cardiff hit back with Mike Peters scoring a goal that was this time counted, taking the score to seven a piece.

Swansea's David Bumby scored another giving Swansea the lead in the crucial last quarter. Bumby hit the bar in another attempt to put Swansea even further ahead but then Swansea's Emma McCormack managed to put her name on the score board instead, which she then followed with another.

In the dying minutes of the game, Cardiff's Izzy Try got another past the Swansea keeper to take the score to 10-8 but the final whistle blew not long after leaving Swansea victorious. Scenes of joy versus sadness were present on the pitch after the game, notably the Cardiff captain who was forced to tears by the defeat and declined to comment.

Swansea captain Steve Ward found it hard to sum up the match but managed to comment that "It was a hard fought game. We were 110% committed today and it showed out there on the pitch." He also went on to say how it was Swansea's first win in this event and how that made it an extra special win that day. Ward also said that he thought goal-keeper Ross Davies was the man of the match, managing to keep Cardiff's many attempts from getting in the net.

Kimberley Davies